For the disabled child, outdoor family outings can be somewhat disappointing. Limited mobility often results in frustration and a feeling of exclusion. One parent came up with an elegant way of giving his daughter, who has Cerebral Palsy, more independence during family swimming trips.

With a battery-powered waterproof motor, a small chair, PVC tubing and some simple floating pontoons, Instructables user shawnmelito constructed this brilliant water scooter for his disabled daughter that would allow her to float around safely, even in a lake where boat wakes often created small waves.

The rider was able to power and steer the scooter herself with a little gentle pressure on the steering wheel, allowing her to move around with her family easily. Any child riding in a contraption like this (or, for that matter, any child playing in the water at all) needs to be closely supervised at all times and should wear the appropriate safety equipment. Full instructions can be found on Instructables for anyone hoping to create a similar scooter.